LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 256, 8 May 1880, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The goods train svhich ; j left PalmersoU for Dunedin at nine o’clock on Tuesday evening ran off the Port line, at the Pelichet Bay siding, early on Wednesday morning. The leading engine went over the sid:ng into the water, falling on its sidej and pulling some of the trucks with it. At high tide, they ■will bo partia ly covered. Pour engine drivers and ! the foreman fortunately escaped with some slight bruises only, having jumped off just prior to the engine leaving the rails. It appears that the points at Pelichet Bay were tampered with. The large America ; engine, which was in front of the train, is broke in two, and several hundred pounds worth of damage done.

As the last goods train from Clyde had got about half a mile on this side of Waiholn on Tuesday evening, the engine appnrently struck something, and the train was stopped immediately. The guard, on looking about, found a man dead lying across the rails. A telegram was received in town on Wednesday afternoon intimating that the body has since been identified as that of one James Eicon. An examination of the engine attached to the goods train, which followed the Express, showed that there were marks of blood and brains upon it, so’that the deceased must have been killed by this engbie.

At the meeting of the Board of Health, held on Tuesday, the Inspector’s report was read, and the Board resolved that the appointment of a nightman for Winchester be offered to Mr Bissett, if ho will undertake it upon the same terms as the one engaged f. r Temuka, viz., the residents paying him'so much a [an per week,, and the Board guaranteeing that bis renumeration shall not fall below 10s per week. The clerk was instructed to supply the Inspector with a letter-book. Napier Police (Jour 1 , Samuel Laird was was found guilty of shooting a her pheasart before-the season commenced, aud was fined L2 and costs.

Commodore Wilson, of H.M.S. Wol verine, has returned to Auckland from Waikato. He states that lie has not received any 'cablegram announcing the safety of the Afalauta, training ship; It appears she was a sailing vessel, and formerly on the Australian station, then known as the Juno, being in comission from 1853 to 1863.

The Bank of New Zealand have enlarged the bank premises at Bussell and Kawak«wa,

An epidemic has broken out amongst sheep in Waikato. Some owners nro losing 50 a week. The cause is unknown.

Passengers per ship Caroline, which arrived at Wellington from London a few days ago, state that the vessel was on fire three times during the voyage, Tho outbreak each time was in the steerage, and at night. On one occasion three passengers’ berths and, a partition were burnt before the ctv flagratioii was stopped. Since the vessel’' a-rival in port, visitors have been rigidly refused admittance on board. Tlie.statements-are denied by the officers on board, who say that the only accident which occurred was through the falling of a candle, but no laiuage was done.

At a Cabinet meeting at Wellington, on Tuesday, the deterioration of-tho silver coinage of the-colony-by wear was considered, and it, was decided to take advantage of the-facilities afforded by the Imperial Government for withdrawing worn coins from circulation.

Many of the gentlemen nominat' < d as provisional directors for Bruce’s Company were unable to attend the meeting fixed for Thursday, on account of having to attend the Harbor Board, and a large land sale, therefore the meeting was adjourned -till Monday next at -half-past two.